Media Information

Lampe Family Endows $1 Million Professorship in College of Engineering

The Ross W. Lampe Family of Smithfield, NC, has pledged $1 million to create the Lampe Family Endowed Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University.

The Lampe family has many ties to the College of Engineering and the university. Dr. Ross W. Lampe Jr., president of SMD Software, Inc., is a 1977 graduate who received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He also earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ross Lampe Jr. currently serves on the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. His father, Ross W. Lampe Sr., president of Guy C. Lee Manufacturing Company, is also a graduate of NC State, having received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1951. In 2002 Ross Sr. received the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award, the highest award given by the College to an alumnus. Other Lampe family members who received degrees from NC State include Tempe Lampe (MS ’82), Guy Lampe (BA ’81) and John Lampe II (BA ’83).

“This generous gift from the Lampe family reflects their long history of involvement with NC State and the College of Engineering, beginning with Dr. J. Harold Lampe’s service as dean of engineering from 1945 to 1962. This endowment will continue that tradition of enhancing and supporting our education, research and outreach efforts. The university applauds the Lampe family for their leadership and generosity,” said Interim Chancellor Robert Barnhardt.

The endowed professorship is the second substantial gift from the family. In 1993 in memory of Dean Lampe, they created the J. Harold Lampe Engineering Excellence Fund, which is an endowment providing unrestricted support for the College.

Dr. Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering, said of the Lampe family gift, “We are very grateful for the generosity and commitment the Lampe family has shown the College of Engineering and NC State. This gift will greatly enhance our efforts to provide the highest quality faculty.”